Wearable Devices and Mobile Applications – 2025 Health IT Predictions

As we wrap up another year and get ready for 2025 to begin, it is once again time for everyone’s favorite annual tradition of Health IT Predictions! We reached out to our incredible Healthcare IT Today Community to get their insights on what will happen in the coming year and boy did they deliver. We in fact got so many responses to our prompt this year, that we have had to narrow them down to just the best and most interesting. Check out the community’s predictions down below and be sure to follow along as we share more 2025 Health IT Predictions!

Check out our community’s Wearable Devices and Mobile Applications predictions:

Trea Zemaitis, Senior Security Engineer at Core4ce
The integration of IoT devices in healthcare has transformed patient care, enabling continuous monitoring and personalized treatment. However, these advancements come with significant cybersecurity challenges. Scientific studies have documented vulnerabilities in medical IoT (IoMT) devices, such as inadequate authentication, poor encryption protocols, and susceptibility to exploitation via remote code execution or leveraging adversary-in-the-middle (AiTM) attacks.

The rise of generative AI amplifies these risks. Generative AI models are now being leveraged to craft malware capable of bypassing traditional defenses and automating sophisticated attack chains against connected systems. Recent research underscores how AI-driven attacks can analyze IoMT devices for vulnerabilities at unprecedented speeds, posing a heightened threat to healthcare networks and even individual users of IoMT.

Zero Trust architecture offers a countermeasure unique to this space. By requiring strict identity verification, granular access controls, and continuous monitoring, Zero Trust ensures that even if an IoMT device is compromised, the broader network remains protected. Studies have demonstrated that Zero Trust implementation reduces lateral movement within networks and mitigates risks associated with unsecured endpoints. As generative AI evolves, healthcare organizations must prioritize securing IoMT devices under a Zero Trust model to safeguard patient safety and sensitive data and maintain trust in these critical technologies.

Stephen Vaccaro, President at HHAeXchange
AI-powered devices have improved many facets of home care. Wearables and sensors are used to detect falls, track vital signs, manage healthcare appointments, and identify health issues before they become emergencies. Additionally, AI digital assistants designed to engage with older people, such as voice-activated robotic companions, are gaining popularity and have been shown to reduce loneliness and improve well-being.

Though they may seem futuristic, AI caregivers have proven useful and will become a viable solution to help bridge homecare worker staffing shortages. In New York, the devices are offered as a recurring part of the state budget, costing about $700,00 annually. Heading into 2025 and beyond, we will likely see more states begin allocating budget funds to provide AI companions to elderly residents as a way to enhance their quality of life.

Pramila Srinivasan, CEO at CharmHealth
As the nation faces an increasing shortage of primary care providers, especially in rural and underserved areas, healthcare technology is set to undergo a transformation that will redefine how patients access care. This transformation will be largely driven by advances in remote patient monitoring (RPM), artificial intelligence (AI), cloud-based electronic health records (EHRs), and integrated virtual care networks. Remote patient monitoring will evolve beyond tracking basic vitals to providing predictive health insights through the integration of AI and machine learning.

Current RPM devices like wearable sensors, smartwatches, and mobile health apps will advance to include AI-powered algorithms capable of detecting subtle changes in patient’s health metrics before they escalate into critical conditions. The key developments that will accelerate this trend will be:

• Continuous Monitoring: AI algorithms will analyze data from wearables, such as heart rate variability, blood pressure, glucose levels, and oxygen saturation, to identify early warning signs of chronic diseases or acute conditions
• Predictive Analytics: AI will detect patterns that predict exacerbations in chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and COPD, enabling preventive interventions
• Access: In-home and mobile healthcare access will improve convenience, access, and economy in healthcare delivery

The primary care shortage will accelerate the adoption of virtual care networks where patients can receive consultations, diagnosis, and treatment from licensed healthcare providers remotely. These platforms will not just serve as telehealth solutions but also will integrate with in-person home health care, remote monitoring devices, cloud-based EHRs, and AI diagnostics to provide a seamless experience.

Adam Hesse, CEO at Full Spectrum
In 2025, AI will be essential to staying competitive in the medical device sector, it’s no longer enough to have a product without AI integration. AI will not only enhance the devices themselves but also shape their development processes. The trend is already clear, with FDA approvals for AI-related products rising significantly, from 650 devices in 2023 to 950 in 2024. As the hype cycle settles, the focus will shift to real-world adaptation and the competitive edge that AI provides in both product and development.

Also in 2025, R&D investments in medical devices will accelerate as companies recognize that delaying innovation could mean falling behind. Following a cycle of financial slowdown and layoffs, we’re about to see an uptick in R&D, fueled by a resurgence in Medtech profitability. This renewed focus on research and development will be key to staying competitive.

Chris Darland, CEO at Peerbridge Health
The use of remote monitoring devices sharply increased during the pandemic, and as of 2022, nearly 50 million Americans were using in-home health monitoring tools. These devices are especially valuable for underserved populations such as rural Americans, who may be hours away from a specialist or even primary care provider, as well as elderly people who lack transportation or face other obstacles that prevent them from accessing care.

Next year we’ll continue to see remote health technology vendors integrate AI into their platforms. For example, using AI-powered remote wearables for monitoring their hearts will allow patients to benefit from a hospital-quality tool without having to travel to a facility. Whether a patient struggles with heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, sleep disorders, or other conditions, more AI-powered remote monitoring devices will be available in 2025 to bring quality care to their homes.

Jason Griffin, MBA, CISM, Managing Director, IT Strategy and Cybersecurity at Nordic Consulting
After a year of unprecedented disruption from cyberattacks, cybersecurity is one of healthcare’s top IT priorities. Leaders can prepare by understanding two major elements that will influence strategy in 2025:

Offsetting financial loss is greatly dependent on the strength of internal cyber operations. Cyberattacks, particularly ransomware methods, are financially devastating for healthcare organizations. While cyber liability insurance has been a recovery strategy, rising premiums make it increasingly unaffordable. Many healthcare organizations now face the risk of reduced or no coverage. Strengthening internal cybersecurity has become more urgent than ever in being resilient to potential attacks.

Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) vulnerability continues as a high priority. The Consolidation Appropriations Act of 2023 requires strict cybersecurity measures for medical devices authorized by the FDA. However, those requirements do not apply retroactively to manufacturers whose devices were authorized before March 29, 2023. This leaves a gap in cybersecurity resilience as the majority of IoMT devices were implemented prior to this date. Future-thinking healthcare leaders prioritize cybersecurity investments and their operations around these vulnerabilities.

Andrew Speir, Vice President of Advanced Cyber Solutions at Core4ce
The hidden cybersecurity risks of implanted medical devices will surge in 2025. Connected devices like pacemakers and insulin pumps will become prime targets, putting vulnerable patients at risk as attackers seek new ways to breach healthcare organizations for financial gain. As hospitals struggle to patch devices quickly enough, attackers will exploit known vulnerabilities to access connected systems to steal data, demand ransoms, or worse, cause physical harm to patients.

Regulatory bottlenecks, especially with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will worsen this issue. Already criticized for its slow patch approvals, the FDA’s delays will give attackers more time to exploit gaps in device security. As cyberattacks escalate, healthcare regulators will face mounting pressure to reform patch approval processes to prevent a catastrophic rise in medical device threats.

Kassaundra McKnight-Young, MSN, RN, NI-BC, Healthcare CNIO Industry Principal, North America at Zebra Technologies
Spending will increase on clinical mobile devices and software that easily connect providers with patients and offer fast, secure access to electronic health records, schedules, diagnostic and prescription ordering systems, and referral systems. However, the trending mindset will be “less is more,” with a movement toward a clinical mobility “multitool” that can replace the current toolbelt (which is really more like a backpack.) Think of one device with just a few apps to support all aspects of a clinician’s job.

Favoritism will also shift toward mobile technologies that protect clinicians from liabilities and workplace violence. Technology that enables them to easily document everything they say and do, verify patient identifications during treatment, and solicit help in crises will win out. This is where automation will dominate, along with an intense IT effort to ensure the appropriate cellular (5G) and Wi-Fi infrastructure is in place across all healthcare-supportive settings, whether that’s a hospital, community facility, or clinician’s remote work location.

Joshua Titus, Founder and CEO at Gozio Health
In 2025, personalized and unified mobile experiences will move front and center as a critical competitive differentiator for hospitals and health systems. In recent years, efforts to keep up with the demand for better digital experiences have resulted in disjointed mobile strategies, often characterized by multiple patient-facing apps. This results in fragmented consumer experiences and, ultimately, lackluster adoption. Given that so much of daily interaction happens on a mobile device, forward-thinking health systems will view mobile as a critical problem solver and invest in infrastructures that create the simplified, personalized mobile experiences consumers have come to expect.

Denise Marks, CFO and EVP at CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
AI startup solutions that aid in oral health-linked disease diagnosis, treatment, and care planning will be critical areas of investment for digital health VCs in 2025. It’s clear that VC interest in oral health investments is increasing, reaching over $400M in 2024 alone. With that number expected to increase, one key area will be in AI, specifically, AI technologies that address the demand for more personalized care for oral health-linked diseases. This will come from solutions that integrate data from sources such as dental scans and wearable health devices to predict oral health issues and empower prevention before they escalate into costly, life-threatening illnesses.

Amanda Barefoot, MHA, Managing Director, Health Care & Life Sciences Solutions at SAS
Home healthcare continues to gain momentum. While this has been a continual trend, patient adoption appears to be the influencing factor that fuels the growth. Our aging populations are more technologically savvy and have a strong desire for in-home independence. Support for caregivers is increasing in employee benefit packages, allowing paid absences from work to care for loved ones. Some studies have even proved better outcomes for certain conditions when managed at home versus in a hospital setting. Technology plays a critical role in this shift, with telehealth platforms, wearable health devices, and remote monitoring tools enabling patients to manage their conditions more effectively from the comfort of their homes.

Thank you so much to everyone who took the time out of their day to submit a prediction to us and thank you to all of you for taking the time to read this article! We could not do this without all of your support. What do you think will happen for Wearable Devices and Mobile Applications in 2025? Let us know on social media. We’d love to hear from all of you!

Be sure to check out all of Healthcare IT Today’s Wearable Devices and Mobile Applications content and our other 2025 Health IT Predictions.

As we wrap up another year and get ready for 2025 to begin, it is once again time for everyone’s favorite annual tradition of Health IT Predictions! We reached out to our incredible Healthcare IT Today Community to get their insights on what will happen in the coming year and boy did they deliver. We in fact got so many responses to our prompt this year, that we have had to narrow them down to just the best and most interesting. Check out the community’s predictions down below and be sure to follow along as we share more 2025 Health IT Predictions!

Check out our community’s Wearable Devices and Mobile Applications predictions:

Trea Zemaitis, Senior Security Engineer at Core4ce
The integration of IoT devices in healthcare has transformed patient care, enabling continuous monitoring and personalized treatment. However, these advancements come with significant cybersecurity challenges. Scientific studies have documented vulnerabilities in medical IoT (IoMT) devices, such as inadequate authentication, poor encryption protocols, and susceptibility to exploitation via remote code execution or leveraging adversary-in-the-middle (AiTM) attacks.

The rise of generative AI amplifies these risks. Generative AI models are now being leveraged to craft malware capable of bypassing traditional defenses and automating sophisticated attack chains against connected systems. Recent research underscores how AI-driven attacks can analyze IoMT devices for vulnerabilities at unprecedented speeds, posing a heightened threat to healthcare networks and even individual users of IoMT.

Zero Trust architecture offers a countermeasure unique to this space. By requiring strict identity verification, granular access controls, and continuous monitoring, Zero Trust ensures that even if an IoMT device is compromised, the broader network remains protected. Studies have demonstrated that Zero Trust implementation reduces lateral movement within networks and mitigates risks associated with unsecured endpoints. As generative AI evolves, healthcare organizations must prioritize securing IoMT devices under a Zero Trust model to safeguard patient safety and sensitive data and maintain trust in these critical technologies.

Stephen Vaccaro, President at HHAeXchange
AI-powered devices have improved many facets of home care. Wearables and sensors are used to detect falls, track vital signs, manage healthcare appointments, and identify health issues before they become emergencies. Additionally, AI digital assistants designed to engage with older people, such as voice-activated robotic companions, are gaining popularity and have been shown to reduce loneliness and improve well-being.

Though they may seem futuristic, AI caregivers have proven useful and will become a viable solution to help bridge homecare worker staffing shortages. In New York, the devices are offered as a recurring part of the state budget, costing about $700,00 annually. Heading into 2025 and beyond, we will likely see more states begin allocating budget funds to provide AI companions to elderly residents as a way to enhance their quality of life.

Pramila Srinivasan, CEO at CharmHealth
As the nation faces an increasing shortage of primary care providers, especially in rural and underserved areas, healthcare technology is set to undergo a transformation that will redefine how patients access care. This transformation will be largely driven by advances in remote patient monitoring (RPM), artificial intelligence (AI), cloud-based electronic health records (EHRs), and integrated virtual care networks. Remote patient monitoring will evolve beyond tracking basic vitals to providing predictive health insights through the integration of AI and machine learning.

Current RPM devices like wearable sensors, smartwatches, and mobile health apps will advance to include AI-powered algorithms capable of detecting subtle changes in patient’s health metrics before they escalate into critical conditions. The key developments that will accelerate this trend will be:

• Continuous Monitoring: AI algorithms will analyze data from wearables, such as heart rate variability, blood pressure, glucose levels, and oxygen saturation, to identify early warning signs of chronic diseases or acute conditions
• Predictive Analytics: AI will detect patterns that predict exacerbations in chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and COPD, enabling preventive interventions
• Access: In-home and mobile healthcare access will improve convenience, access, and economy in healthcare delivery

The primary care shortage will accelerate the adoption of virtual care networks where patients can receive consultations, diagnosis, and treatment from licensed healthcare providers remotely. These platforms will not just serve as telehealth solutions but also will integrate with in-person home health care, remote monitoring devices, cloud-based EHRs, and AI diagnostics to provide a seamless experience.

Adam Hesse, CEO at Full Spectrum
In 2025, AI will be essential to staying competitive in the medical device sector, it’s no longer enough to have a product without AI integration. AI will not only enhance the devices themselves but also shape their development processes. The trend is already clear, with FDA approvals for AI-related products rising significantly, from 650 devices in 2023 to 950 in 2024. As the hype cycle settles, the focus will shift to real-world adaptation and the competitive edge that AI provides in both product and development.

Also in 2025, R&D investments in medical devices will accelerate as companies recognize that delaying innovation could mean falling behind. Following a cycle of financial slowdown and layoffs, we’re about to see an uptick in R&D, fueled by a resurgence in Medtech profitability. This renewed focus on research and development will be key to staying competitive.

Chris Darland, CEO at Peerbridge Health
The use of remote monitoring devices sharply increased during the pandemic, and as of 2022, nearly 50 million Americans were using in-home health monitoring tools. These devices are especially valuable for underserved populations such as rural Americans, who may be hours away from a specialist or even primary care provider, as well as elderly people who lack transportation or face other obstacles that prevent them from accessing care.

Next year we’ll continue to see remote health technology vendors integrate AI into their platforms. For example, using AI-powered remote wearables for monitoring their hearts will allow patients to benefit from a hospital-quality tool without having to travel to a facility. Whether a patient struggles with heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, sleep disorders, or other conditions, more AI-powered remote monitoring devices will be available in 2025 to bring quality care to their homes.

Jason Griffin, MBA, CISM, Managing Director, IT Strategy and Cybersecurity at Nordic Consulting
After a year of unprecedented disruption from cyberattacks, cybersecurity is one of healthcare’s top IT priorities. Leaders can prepare by understanding two major elements that will influence strategy in 2025:

Offsetting financial loss is greatly dependent on the strength of internal cyber operations. Cyberattacks, particularly ransomware methods, are financially devastating for healthcare organizations. While cyber liability insurance has been a recovery strategy, rising premiums make it increasingly unaffordable. Many healthcare organizations now face the risk of reduced or no coverage. Strengthening internal cybersecurity has become more urgent than ever in being resilient to potential attacks.

Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) vulnerability continues as a high priority. The Consolidation Appropriations Act of 2023 requires strict cybersecurity measures for medical devices authorized by the FDA. However, those requirements do not apply retroactively to manufacturers whose devices were authorized before March 29, 2023. This leaves a gap in cybersecurity resilience as the majority of IoMT devices were implemented prior to this date. Future-thinking healthcare leaders prioritize cybersecurity investments and their operations around these vulnerabilities.

Andrew Speir, Vice President of Advanced Cyber Solutions at Core4ce
The hidden cybersecurity risks of implanted medical devices will surge in 2025. Connected devices like pacemakers and insulin pumps will become prime targets, putting vulnerable patients at risk as attackers seek new ways to breach healthcare organizations for financial gain. As hospitals struggle to patch devices quickly enough, attackers will exploit known vulnerabilities to access connected systems to steal data, demand ransoms, or worse, cause physical harm to patients.

Regulatory bottlenecks, especially with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will worsen this issue. Already criticized for its slow patch approvals, the FDA’s delays will give attackers more time to exploit gaps in device security. As cyberattacks escalate, healthcare regulators will face mounting pressure to reform patch approval processes to prevent a catastrophic rise in medical device threats.

Kassaundra McKnight-Young, MSN, RN, NI-BC, Healthcare CNIO Industry Principal, North America at Zebra Technologies
Spending will increase on clinical mobile devices and software that easily connect providers with patients and offer fast, secure access to electronic health records, schedules, diagnostic and prescription ordering systems, and referral systems. However, the trending mindset will be “less is more,” with a movement toward a clinical mobility “multitool” that can replace the current toolbelt (which is really more like a backpack.) Think of one device with just a few apps to support all aspects of a clinician’s job.

Favoritism will also shift toward mobile technologies that protect clinicians from liabilities and workplace violence. Technology that enables them to easily document everything they say and do, verify patient identifications during treatment, and solicit help in crises will win out. This is where automation will dominate, along with an intense IT effort to ensure the appropriate cellular (5G) and Wi-Fi infrastructure is in place across all healthcare-supportive settings, whether that’s a hospital, community facility, or clinician’s remote work location.

Joshua Titus, Founder and CEO at Gozio Health
In 2025, personalized and unified mobile experiences will move front and center as a critical competitive differentiator for hospitals and health systems. In recent years, efforts to keep up with the demand for better digital experiences have resulted in disjointed mobile strategies, often characterized by multiple patient-facing apps. This results in fragmented consumer experiences and, ultimately, lackluster adoption. Given that so much of daily interaction happens on a mobile device, forward-thinking health systems will view mobile as a critical problem solver and invest in infrastructures that create the simplified, personalized mobile experiences consumers have come to expect.

Denise Marks, CFO and EVP at CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
AI startup solutions that aid in oral health-linked disease diagnosis, treatment, and care planning will be critical areas of investment for digital health VCs in 2025. It’s clear that VC interest in oral health investments is increasing, reaching over $400M in 2024 alone. With that number expected to increase, one key area will be in AI, specifically, AI technologies that address the demand for more personalized care for oral health-linked diseases. This will come from solutions that integrate data from sources such as dental scans and wearable health devices to predict oral health issues and empower prevention before they escalate into costly, life-threatening illnesses.

Amanda Barefoot, MHA, Managing Director, Health Care & Life Sciences Solutions at SAS
Home healthcare continues to gain momentum. While this has been a continual trend, patient adoption appears to be the influencing factor that fuels the growth. Our aging populations are more technologically savvy and have a strong desire for in-home independence. Support for caregivers is increasing in employee benefit packages, allowing paid absences from work to care for loved ones. Some studies have even proved better outcomes for certain conditions when managed at home versus in a hospital setting. Technology plays a critical role in this shift, with telehealth platforms, wearable health devices, and remote monitoring tools enabling patients to manage their conditions more effectively from the comfort of their homes.

Thank you so much to everyone who took the time out of their day to submit a prediction to us and thank you to all of you for taking the time to read this article! We could not do this without all of your support. What do you think will happen for Wearable Devices and Mobile Applications in 2025? Let us know on social media. We’d love to hear from all of you!

Be sure to check out all of Healthcare IT Today’s Wearable Devices and Mobile Applications content and our other 2025 Health IT Predictions.